Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - A pair of teams on opposite ends of the
Division I spectrum will match up at Fifth Third Arena on Saturday afternoon
when the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks take on the 11th-ranked Cincinnati
Bearcats.
The past few years have been pretty miserable for UMES and the 2012-13
campaign isn't shaping up any better. After a 100-68 thrashing by Maryland on
Wednesday the Hawks are now winless in eight tries this season which extends
their overall losing streak to 11 games dating back to last season. A small
part of the issue has been UMES' schedule which has yet to feature a home
game. That won't change anytime soon as the Hawks have three more road games
left before the home opener in mid-January.
Cincinnati is a perfect 8-0 following an 87-53 beating of Arkansas-Little Rock
on Thursday night. That win improved the Bearcats to 6-0 at Fifth Third Arena
this season, where the Bearcats have spent most of their time early on.
Cincinnati began the season at No. 24 in the national rankings and has risen
to No. 11 during its hot start. Cincinnati takes to the road in its next two
games when it faces Marshall before a big-time rematch with cross-town rival
Xavier.
The Hawks were buried on both ends of the floor against Maryland on Wednesday.
UMES shot just 31.9 percent in the game and allowed the Terrapins to knock
down 61.3 percent of their shots from the floor including a 10-of-20 effort
from beyond the arc. Maryland was able to get the ball to whatever spot it
wanted on the floor, racking up 27 assists to just six from the Hawks. Kyree
Jones poured n 24 points and was one of only six players to score at all in
the game for UMES.
As might be expected, UMES has not had much success on either end of the floor
this year. The Hawks are scoring only 57.6 points per game and shooting at a
34.1 percent clip. The Hawks' shooting percentage is actually the second worst
mark of 347 programs at the Division I level. On the other end the Hawks are
letting up 74.0 points per game while teams shoot 51.4 percent from the field.
The Hawks also suffer from a large disparity in rebounds (-7.0) and assists
(-7.7). Jones (15.5 ppg) has been one of very few consistent scorers. Jones
has taken on a great deal of responsibility in that regard putting up at least
10 shots per game in six contests this season but he is only connecting on
39.2 percent of those. Troy Snyder (12.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg) is also scoring in
double figures and is the top rebounder on the roster. Snyder likewise has
been erratic in shooting the ball (34.8 FG percentage). Other than Ishaq Pitt,
(7.1 ppg) no other player is scoring more than seven points per game.
Cincinnati played well on both ends of the floor en route to easily getting
past Arkansas-Little Rock on Thursday. The Bearcats shot at a 47.9 percent
clip overall and led 44-17 at the break by holding the Trojans to just eight
field goals in the first 20 minutes. The second half was a bit more even with
a number of reserves playing major minutes for Cincinnati. The Bearcats
outscored the Trojans both in the paint (42-20) and on points off turnovers
(31-8). Sean Kilpatrick yet again paced the Bearcats with 18 points and six
rebounds.
As a team Cincinnati has been stellar on both ends all season. The Bearcats
are scoring 83.,2 points per game and shooting 46.6 percent from the field. On
defense the team allows only 59.1 points per game on the fifth lowest opponent
field goal percentage (34.7) in Division I. Kilpatrick (19.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg) has
really transformed into one of the best guards not only in the Big East but
the country overall. At 6-foot-4, he has the ability to get anywhere on the
floor to get his shot while also pounding the glass. He has scored in double
figures in every game this season and is shooting 48.1 percent overall,
including a 42.0 percent clip from beyond the arc. Cincinnati's strength in
the backcourt doesn't end with Kilpatrick, as both Cashmere Wright (!4.4 ppg)
and JaQuon Parker (10.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) are also more than capable of lighting
it up. There is less depth and production out of the backcourt where Justin
Jackson (41 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Cheikh Mbodj (5.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg) are the top
options. Even with a lack of frontcourt power Cincinnati is still the third
best rebounding team in the country (45.8 pg).
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